Shopian: District Development Council (DDC) Chairperson, Shopian, Bilqees Jan Tuesday inaugurated a Mega Kisan Mela organised by the Agriculture Department at Arhama, Shopian making a significant outreach and exhibition initiative aimed at empowering people with modern agricultural practices and technologies and providing a link for one to one contact with successful and progressive farmers.
During the event, the Chairperson inspected various departmental and entrepreneurial stalls, showcasing high-yielding seed varieties, soil-health technologies, agri-machinery, organic farming models, PM Kisan services and allied sector innovations including in horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, floriculture,etc.
While interacting with farmers, the DDC Chairperson emphasised the need to adopt climate-resilient practices, scientific interventions and government-supported schemes to enhance productivity and farm income. She appreciated the Agriculture Department for organising the Mela and encouraged officers to intensify awareness regarding welfare schemes, subsidy components, FPO support and market linkages.
She said Tuesday’s event is not just an exhibition, it is a symbol of the collective commitment of our district towards agricultural growth, innovation and farmers empowerment. She said events like this mela provide our farmers with a golden opportunity to directly interact with experts, understand new technologies, explore high yielding crop varieties, learn about scientific farming practices and gain awareness about flagship schemes.
CAO, Kulgam, Farooq Ahmed Reshi, briefed the gathering about ongoing initiatives under Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), integrated farming and support available to farming community under self-employment schemes.
The Mela exhibited stalls of departments showcasing impact of government-supported schemes and of agripreneurs in farm machinery & sustainable practices, horticulture sector innovations, honey, mushroom, fish and vegetable farming which demonstrated the application of Integrated & organic farming farming.
DDC members of the district, Head KVK, officers/officials of agriculture department and line departments and a large number of locals participated in the mela and showed keen interest in visiting stalls and engaged in activities in the trade mela and exhibition activities.
